Expectations for 'Hobbit'

Nomad Safaris retail manager Emma McGoldrick poses with Middle-earth memorabilia at the tour...
Nomad Safaris retail manager Emma McGoldrick poses with Middle-earth memorabilia at the tour operator's Shotover St store. Photo by James Beech.
Wakatipu tourism operators who offer scenic tours of The Lord of the Rings locations say they are poised to capitalise if - or when - The Hobbit is filmed in part in the area.

Nomad Safaris created the 4WD road tour of Middle-earth locations in the area and experienced spikes of demand from tourists when the films were released, then constant demand since 2005.

However, not many clients taking "the safari of the scenes" trip had seen the trilogy, co-owner-operator David Gatward-Ferguson said.

"Movies endorse the scenery as world-class.

"The films went on for years around the world and it had such a long marketing period, it was just phenomenal. Is The Hobbit going to be as big as that? I don't know, but the fact it's being made and in New Zealand is just superb."

Mr Gatward-Ferguson said even if The Hobbit never came to Queenstown, the film would reinvigorate interest in The Lord of the Rings and a resurgence in tourists visiting the film locations, including Queenstown and Glenorchy.

Pure Glenorchy LOTR Scenic Tours owner-operator Mark Holmes said his staff were all excited about The Hobbit and they were "pretty sure" it would be shot in the Wakatipu.

"We think it would rekindle the interest in Lord of the Rings. It's still going strong, but it would be a great boost."

A Lord of the Rings tour was the best way to see some of the most picturesque scenery in New Zealand and sometimes half of his clients had only heard of the movies, not watched them, Mr Holmes said.

"Lord of the Rings crosses all demographics. We've had people from Israel, Singapore, Germany and Norway and that's all they wanted to know about.

"It appeals to people in their 60s, 70s and 80s as much as 12-year-olds."

Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings, of Queenstown, said while he had not had any direct contact from The Hobbit production company, "I look forward to facilitating the project, if they choose to shoot in the South and should they need it. How, would depend on what they need, whether it be help with locations, or permissions from local authorities."

The Hobbit is understood to be in the early stages of pre-production and the official green light has yet to be given by the studios.

However, applications for extras opened last month and locations are being scouted in the Wakatipu and around the South Island.

Casting information released by MGM Studios in New Zealand indicated a 14-month production schedule would begin with principal photography in June 2010.

Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) will direct from a script co-written by executive producers Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, with screenwriter Philippa Boyens and Mr del Toro, based on J. R. R Tolkien's novel.

The widely reported theatrical release of The Hobbit is December 2011 with the proposed second film due in December 2012.

Three Foot Seven Ltd, a Wellington company involved in the production, declined to comment.

 

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